Page 45 of A Buckeye Falls Christmas
Natalie flapped a manicured hand. “Honey, it’s Buckeye Falls. I don’t think we have any cliffs.”
“Text if you hear anything from CeCe and Evan, will you?” Max asked, slamming the trunk shut.
“You do the same.” Anthony shot a thumbs-up while putting the car in reverse.
“Merry Christmas!” Ginny and Natalie shouted in unison.
“We’ll have to do this every year,” Natalie urged.
Ginny nodded, but couldn’t hold back a scoff. “Yes, but maybe without the early labor and half the town showing up?”
“Deal,” Anthony said, waving before driving down Main Street.
Max pulled Ginny close as they watched their friends drive away. Maybe it was the holiday putting him in a sentimental mood, but Max’s eyes began to water. They had all come so far, and he sometimes couldn’t believe it.
Misunderstanding, Ginny pulled back and sighed. “Max, the kids are home safe. I got a text from Josie an hour ago.”
Dabbing at his cheeks with his sleeve, he let out a shuddering breath. “I know that. I just can’t believe how much has changed.”
“How so?” she asked, turning them toward the diner.
Max held the door open as they stepped into the kitchen, still warm from a day of the ovens working overtime.
Everyone had helped with cleaning up, so the only thing remaining was a box of leftover cheesy bites at CeCe’s workstation. Max took the box and tucked it under his arm, clicking off the lights as he reached for his coat.
“I remember when you came back to town.” Ginny’s shoulders tensed at the reminder of their time before reconciliation. “Anthony and I could hardly be in the same room with each other, and Evan followed CeCe around like a lovesick puppy.”
Ginny softened, wrapping a scarf around her neck. “Well, Evan still follows CeCe around like a lovesick puppy.”
“Okay, fair point. But look at how well everything turned out. We’re back together—”
Ginny cut him off, kissing him briefly, and saying, “And happier than ever.”
“Agreed,” Max said on a sigh. “And now we’re all paired off with families and careers and life. It’s just, I don’t know, amazing.”
Ginny nodded, taking his hand and stepping back into the chilly Christmas night. “It is amazing, and I’d like to show you how amazing once we’re back at home.” She winked and strode to their car, an extra sway in her hips.
Max ran to catch up, tossing the box of crackers in the backseat and turning on the car. They made it home in record time. Thank goodness Buckeye Falls isn’t known for its late-night traffic.
